Okayplayer • 25th September 2012 Open Mike Eagle Whether you call it experimental, exploratory or just regular ol’ backpacker hip-hop, the Chi-town MC Open Mike Eagle clearly represents the kind of hip-hop that pushes boundaries.
Okayplayer • 3rd August 2012 Curren$y After over a decade in the rap game, Curren$y’s first major release, The Stoned Immaculate, is not horrible. But his raspy distorted voice and minimal verses keep it firmly in the low-key, stoner end of the rap spectrum.
Okayplayer • 19th July 2012 Amiri Two years after the release of his critically acclaimed LP The Recipe, Amiri Gamble returns on the scene with his new album entitled Vinyl Ritchie.
Okayplayer • 12th June 2012 Dibia$e It’s been two years since L.A. beatmaker Dibia$e put out a new album. And, while many of the artists seeking the Dibia$e sound over the past decade have been in the hip-hop realm, Dibia$e is clearly expanding his horizons with his new instrumental LP Looney Goons.
Okayplayer • 23rd May 2012 Stretch Money As far as rap names go, the name Stretch Money, doesn’t exactly scream depth or lyrical substance. Surprisingly enough, Detroit MC Stretch Money is anything but your typical superthug, slang poppin’ street rapper.
Okayplayer • 3rd April 2012 Chiddy Bang There was a time when hip-hop bands seemed intriguing, just because. Nowadays, new hip-hop bands have become just as ordinary as any new rapper; with many offerings, few are able to achieve a true mark of distinction.
Okayplayer • 15th March 2012 T. Shirt T. Shirt is not just an indie-rapper with an interesting name, thank goodness. T. Shirt is a somewhat unlikely New York MC who has built a modest following dropping LP’s independently and blogging via his crafty website illrapper.com.
Okayplayer • 12th January 2012 Pusha T Originally known as one half of the group Clipse, Pusha T has quickly established himself as a fiery Virginia MC, delivering colorful street rhymes with vivid imagery.
Okayplayer • 31st December 2011 M.O.P. & Snowgoons Mention “M.O.P.” in any hip-hop conversation, and most heads have either heard or heard of who you’re talking about. With minimal radio play, the stocky, gravel-voiced microphone fiends, Billy Danze and Lil Fame, have gained a reputation for leaving a trail of scorched stages all over, statewide to overseas and everyplace in between.
Baltimore City Paper • 9th February 2005 Wordsworth: Mirror Music Wordworth first gained recognition at New York's underground freestyle jam session Lyricist Lounge, as a co-creator MTV's 2000 The Lyricist Lounge Show, and for his rapid-fire delivery and skillful wordplay.
Baltimore City Paper • 28th April 2004 Young Gunz: Tough Luv Young Gunz rose to the fore through collaborations with some of Roc-a-Fella Records' finest--Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Freeway--but last fall's blazing single "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" is what proved the duo's bright mainstream promise.
Baltimore City Paper • 18th February 2004 Sound Providers Beatmakers sampling jazz tunes is certainly nothing new, but new-school revivalist Jason Skills and Soulo prove there's still plenty of innovation possible.